Automatic phonograph



Sept- 2, 1941- D. RoBlNs 2,254,546

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed June 22, 1940 s sheets-sheet 1 BY-4 m* Sept. 2, l94l. I D. ROBINS 2,254,546

AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPH Filed June 22, 1940 i 3 Sheets-Sl'xee'kl 3 INVENTOR.

PatentedJA Sept. 2, 1941 uNirEo STATES .PATENT oFFlcE AUTOMATIC BHCNOGRAPH Don Robins, Burbank, Calif.

Application `lune Z2, 1940, Serial No. 341,858

8 Claims.

I'he primary purpose f my invention is the provision of a means for automatically conveying" Similar letters Vand numerals of referencemdicate like parts throughout the several views,

a record (either single or double faced) from the source of lsupply co-jointly provided for, to the phonograph table for playing, and upon completion of the playing, for removingthe same from the table to a place of storage, also provided for. And, in the use of double faced records, upon completing the playing of one side thereof, for raising the record above the phonograph table, reversing it and re-placing on the table, removal following as above described upon completion of the playing.

A further object of the herein invention is the provision of a means whereby an assorted lot of records may be positioned for selective playing and without further attention, each record in turn being automatically conveyed to and from the phonograph table in the order of selection.

A further object of the herein invention is the provision of a device adaptable for-playing all ordinary .ten inch and twelve inch records, separately or intermixed as may be desired.

And a further object of the herein invention is the provision of a highly ingenious, quiet and smoothly operating mechanism, light in Weight, practically fool proof and compactly arranged and assembled.

I attain these objects by'the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation of the record selective feed rod with fragments of a plurality of records shown thereon in cross section;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the right hand end of the invention as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the left hand end of the invention as shown in Figure'l, with certain parts broken away and omitted;

Figure '1 is a fragmentary elevationof the invention shown in Figure 6, and illustrates a movement hereinafter described;v l

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a section on line IIJ-I0 of Fig- Figure 11 is a section on line II-II of Figure l, and

AFigure 12 is a control circuit diagram of the various electrically operating devices of the: invention.

thus the numeral I0 indicates a shelf within the phonograph cabinet and Whereto are aflixed (above and beneath) the componentparts embodying the herein invention.

A conventional phonograph turn table II, driven by a motor (not shown), is attached to the shaft I2 of the motor adjacent the upper surface of the shelf I0.

The records 'chosen to be played are designated in lgeneral as R. (Figure 3). They are placed on a record selective feed rod I3 by means of the conventional center hole in each record. The order in which they are placed on this rod, determines the order in which they will be played. Thus the first record placed upon the rod will be the last record played, and bythe same token,.

one at a time as is hereinafter more fully explained.

-The records, one or more, are urged against a shoulder I8 by leaf springs 20, each having one of their ends attached to the Wall I5.

The rod I3 projects through said wall I5 and has a trigger plate 2I rotatable thereon which is retained between the wall and a toggle arm 22 secured upon the end of the rod. The toggle arm 22 is urged into either one of two positions by a spring 23 attached at one end to said arm and at the other end to a pin 24 secured in the Wall I5. The trigger plate 2| is provided with lugs 25 and 26 for limiting the rotation of said plate by contact with a pin 21 xed in the wall v ted at 33 to receive a pin 34 xed inf one end35 of a T-shaped lever 36 pivoted at-31 to a boss 33 provided on the bottom of the shelf I0.

A stem as of the lever 361s positioned to ened .to re gage an end of a lever 48 pivoted at 4| between lugs 42 provided on the bottom of the shelf |0. 'I'he lever 40 extends upwardly through a slot 43 in the shelf and is provided with a roller 44 for engagement with a record lifter 45 U-shaped. with the bottom portion of the U hinged at 46 to the shelf I8 adjacent a record receptacle or storage box 41 positioned beneath an opening 48 in the shelf |0. The open end of the U straddles the periphery of the turn table to facilitate on action hereinafter explained.

The lifter 45 is provided with a felt pad or other suitable covering 45' to prevent the records from being scratched and damaged. The box 41 is lined at its bottom witha resilient padding of suitable substance tol take up the force of drop of the records as they are released into the box.

The lever 36 is provided at its other end 50 with a pin 5| which terminates in aball and socket joint to connect said lever with one end of a draw bar 52 which is free at the other end to move arcuately unless impeded by a shoulder 53 of a lever 54 pivoted at one end 55 to the shelf l0.

The draw bar 52 is normally urged by a spring 56 so that a notch 51 in said bar engages a crank pin 58 ilxed to a wheel 59 having a shaft 6 journaled in a bearing hanger 6| secured the shelf |0.

Theshaft 60 carries a worm wheel 62 in mesh lwith a worm 63 carried by a shaft 84 which also carries a worm wheel 65 in mesh with a worm 68 carried by a motor shaft 61 driven by a motor 68 secured to the shelf |0.

A wheel 6 9 is secured to the other'end of the shaft 60 and carries a crank pin. 10 for engagement with a notch 1 provided inv a vertical draw bar 12 urged against said pin by a spring 13..

The other end of the .draw bar'12 not engaged shelf I0 by a spring 96 positioned about the shaft 19 and bearing against the bar 8|.

The draw bar 12 is provided at its lower end with a lug 91 having a beveled top surface.

A hanger 96 suspended beneath the shelf |0 pivotally supports one end of a lever 99 provided near its center with a lug |00 for engagement at certain times with the lug 91 as is hereinafter explained.

The other end of the lever 99 is provided with a lug |0| which serves as a bearing for one end of a rod |02 journaled therein. The other end of,

a plurality of contact clips |01 are provided in the switch box '|08 for engagement with the knife by the pin 10 is pivoted at 14 to a sleeve 15 positioned to reciprocate upon a vertical bar 16 integral with or xed at its lower end to a base plate 11 secured upon the top of the shelf l0.

The base plate 11 is provided with two vertical bearing posts 18 in which are journaled the respective ends of a rocker shaft 19 also journaled in lugs 80 of a hinge bar 8|.

Each end of .the hinge bar 8|' is provided with a pivot pin 82 which functions as pivotal supports for a pair of record pick-up arms 88. 'I'he arms 83 are pivoted so that both ends thereof remain 'free to describe an arc, one end of each, however, is of a shorter radius than the other end. They are connected by means of a ball and socket type joint 84 to an adjustable linkage 85 in turn connected by a ball and socket type joint 86 to the sleeve 15. y l

'I'he linkage 85 embodies a sleeve 81 housing a spring 88 and telescopically receiving a rod 89 suitably secured to the 'sleeve as by a pin 90, for

example. 'The other end of the sleeve receives a rod 9| which is adjustably held therein by a pin 92 positioned in slots 93 provided in theA sleeve. The spring 88 is positioned between the rod 89 and the rod 9| a's more particularly shown in Figure 11.

I'he long radius ends 83 of the arms 83 are providxvith an internally threaded boss adapt- ""v-.a`screi94 having a head at ne u l'fbgember 94 attached to the iticturn table Said ends a pair of brackets 95 at: tibesl'if yi0, and with the heads of the srews against saidV brackets as is hereinafter explained.

switch. 'I'he switch box |08 is suspended beneath the shelf I0 by means of a bracket |09.

Lever 54 is normally urged toward said bracket |09 by a spring ||0 connecting said lever and said bracket, and lever. 99 is normally urged toward said bracket |09 by a spring connecting said lever and bracket.

A lever ||2 is pivotally suspended at one side of its center to a hanger ||3 attached beneath the shelf I0 and has one end extending ovei. and exerting a continuous pressure against the crank pin 10 by reason of a spring 4 attached at one of its ends to the other end of the lever ||2, and its other end to the bottom of the shelf I0.

A link l| |'5 connects the spring attached end of the lever ||2 to one end of an arm 6 underlying a portion of a phonograph pick-up arm |1. The other end of the arm 6 is pivotally connected to a bracket 8 attached upon the shelf I0 Abell crank ||9 is pivotally attached to the bracket |8 at a point higher than the pivotal connection of the arm ||6 so that one leg of the bell crank tends to cross the arm vertically. The other end of the bell crank 9 is pivotally at tached to one end of an armature |20 of a solenoid |'2| attached to a right angled arm of the bracket ||8. A spring I9' urges the bell crank ||9 when released from the pull of the solenoid.

The phonograph pick-up arm ||1 is'pivoted at |22 in conventional manner.

A switch block |23 carrying spring contact .members |24 and |25 is threadably attached by a screw |26 to a lbracket |21 attached to the top of the shelf |0 so that manual turning of the screw adjusts the switch block with respect to the pick-up arm ||14 as is hereinafter explained.

A roller |35 carried by a bracket 36 extending through a slot |31 in the shelf I0 is posifmaterial, and pivotally hung from a bracket |4| secured to the bottom of the shelf |0. Said arm |40 is further provided with lan extension |42 de- Theends 83' are urged downwardly toward the 75 signed to be engaged by the pin 58 at certain times and by urging of a spring |43.

Explanation of the foregoing and operation of the invention is las follows: Assuming that a selection of records R are in place upon the rod I3 as shown in Figure 3, and

a record RI or R2 is in place on the turn table I I, a switch |28 is normally closed to electrically energize the phonograph motor designated as |29 in the wiring diagram, Figure 12.

Record RI represents a twelve inch record, and

record R2 a ten inch record.

If either comprises a double faced record, a switch |30 will be manually closed to the position shown in Figure 12. If a single faced record, said switch will be manually closed upon the contacts |3| instead, also shown in Figure 12.

The pick-up needle is then placed upon the record and the record played. When the playing has proceeded to its ending groove, the latter forces the pick-up arm against the contact member |24 which in turn will be forced against the contact member |25 to energize a relay |32, close a relay switch |33 and energize motor 68.

A relay switch |34 is closed at the same time as the switch |33 for reasons hereinafter set forth.

The motor 88 thus energized (with the switch |05 in contact with clips |06) will' turn the wheel 69 in a counter clockwise directionas is seen in Figure 5, and causing the pin in the notch 1I to draw the bar 12 downwardly and therewith the sleeve downwardly as well.

The linkage 85 will then press outwardly against the short-radius ends of the arms 83 causing the ends 83' to move inwardly toward the played record and engage it with the channel members 94.

Because of the resistance set up by contact with the record, the screws 94 are driven back through the ends 83', the spiral thread of the screws in said backward movement causing a turn-over of the record simultaneously with its raising from the turn table, so that the un-played side of the record is turned upwardly, ready for playing upon its replacement on the turn table.

The thread of the screws are long so that the record is turned over just suiciently to reverse the record as aforesaid, one screw having a right hand thread, the other a left hand thread.

Inasmuch as both= ten inch and twelve inch records can be played`intermixed if desired, a differentiation must be made in the inward movement of the ends 92. Said differentiation is adequately provided by the linkage 85.

When a twelve inch record has been turned over, the sleeve 15 will not yet have reached its downmost position as required to turn over a ten inch record, the difference, however, being taken up by the compression of the spring 88 between the end of the rod 89 andthe end of the rod 9|.

During the operation while the record is being 8 as the lug 91 passes the lug v|00 by reason of the spring II I.

One of the blades of the switch |05 is in series n operation required to turn over the record., but

turned over, the pin 10 is continuing its counter' pulls the knife switch |05 out of contact with clips |06 into contact with clips |01 and .the lever 99 snaps back into the position shown in Figure prior tothe actual turning thereof, one end of the lever ||2 follows the pin 10 downwardly by reason of the spring II4 which through the link ||5 and the arm IIS lifts the pick-up arm ||1 oi the record and because of a further inclination of the arm'l I6 moving the pick-up arm |-|1 back toward the bracket |I8 and thereby cleai'-,`

ing the record of obstruction, the turn over of the record is made possible.

If the record thus turned over is of twelve inch size, it will press down upon the roller |35 causing the spring contact |38 to engage the bar |39 and thereby close an electrical circuit (not shown) so as to energize the solenoid I2| whichwill pull the free leg of the bell crank ||9 closer to the bracket II8 or to the right as viewed in Figure 9, and against a stop |44.

It will be observed that during the operation' for turning over a record, the pin 58 will have been moving clockwise away from the arm |40 so as to permit the spring |43 to pull the roller into engagement with the record, but after the record has been placed upon the turn table the pin' .vill continue to move in a clockwise direction until the motor 68 is stopped and the pin 58 has resumed the position shown in Figures 9 and 10, thereby opening the electrical circuit controlling the movement of the solenoid. f

The reason for moving the bell crank ||9 as just described is to guide the phonograph pick-up arm I|1 into proper relationship with the first playing groove of a twelve inch record. This is accomplished because as the pick-up arm ||1 is raised by the inclination of the arm IIS, said pick-up arm will slide over and down against the free end of the bell crank I I9 and as the pin 10 resumes the position shown in Figure 5, the lever I I2 will be forced upwardly to lower the arm lI I6 together with the pick-up arm ||1, and causing the latter to slide down the bell crank into the proper groove on the twelve inch record.

When the links move downwardly past center, the outer ends of arms 83 are swung upwardly, this being permitted by the bar 8| turning on the pin 19, and simultaneously therewith, the channel members or jaws 94 with the record held therebetween, are lifted whereby to raise the record from the turntable and allow the re` versing operation to take place.

When a ten inch record is placed upon the turntable, it will not contact the .roller |35 (see Figure 1) so that the solenoid' |2| will not be.

energized and the spring I I9 will pull the free leg of the bell crank I I9 to the left as viewed in Figure 9 until said bell crank engages a stop |45 and the pick-up arm H1 win be guided mt the proper groove of the record for playing.

When either record has been completely played, the pick-up arm |I1 will again cause the" contact member |24 and the contact member |25 to engage to energize the relay |32 to close the rela; switch |33 and energize the motor 68,

As the knife switch |05 has already moved into engagement with contacts |01, the motor is reversed to drive the wheel 69 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5, andthe wheel 53 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 6.

, silient pad 49.

At the same time the record RI is beingtilted,

.the end of the lever 36 by means of the slot 33 and pin 34 is moving the bell crank 3|, link 30 and plate 2|, causing the pin 28 to press against the arm 22 until the plate 2| and pin 20 reach the position shown in Figure '1, whereupon the toggle action of the spring 23 snaps the arm 22 down against the pin 29 which acts as a stop because the lug has stopped against pin 21,

and thereby rotates the rod I3 so that it is in position to deliver a second record R2 upon the record lifter 45 which has been abandoned Yby the record RI.

'Ihe record R2 cannot slide off the'lifter 45 because it has not yet left the end of the rodV I3 which is pointed in alignment with the shaft I2 of the turntable I.

One record only is released from the rod I3 at a time, and as follows:

The springs 20 press all the records forward `toward the shoulder I8 until the rod I3 is rotated one-half revolution and causing record R2 to ride upon the shoulder I9 for release, but the next record R3 riding upon thenotch I1` and against the shoulder I9 is thereby estopped from being released. When the rod I3 'resumes the position shown in the drawing, the record R3- will ride upon the notch I6 and thus under 'pressure of the springs 20 be forced against the shoulder I8, ready for release at the next cycle of operation.

The rod I3 vwill resume the position shown in the drawing after releasing a record because the wheel 59 continues to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and the spring 56 holding the notch 51 into engagement with. the pin 58 for moving the bar 52.

As the bar 52 is resuming the position shown in the drawing, it moves over anddown against the lug 53 moving the lever 54 to the left as viewed in Figure 2, so that the lug |03 pulls on the rod |02 to draw the switch |05from the 1. In a phonograph, a supporting structure, a turntable thereon for supporting a disc record. and means for lifting the record from the turntable and reversing and replacing it on the turntable, including arms mounted for movement about vertical and horizontal axes on opposite sides of the turntable, record engaging jaws. screw threaded shafts. fixed to said jaws and threadedly engaged with and rotatable relative to said arms when the jaws are pressed inwardly against the edge oftherecord,l and means operating to first move said arms on their vertical axes to bring the jaws into contact with the record, and then move the arms about their horizontal axes 'for raising the jaws and lifting the record from the turntable while at the same time pressing said jaws and lifting the record for turning the shafts and jaws for reversing the record.

2. In a phonograph, a supporting structure, a turntable thereon for supporting a disc record, and means operating to lift the record from the turntable and reverse and replace it, including jaws for embracing the edges of the record on opposite sides'of the turntable, arms supporting said jaws and mounted on said structure for movement to bring the jaws into and out of engagement with the record and to lift the record from and lower it back upon the turntable, and screw vshafts fixed to said jaws and threadedly engaged with said arms for rotating the jaws about horizontal axes and thereby reversing the record responsive to inward pressure of the jaws againstthe edge of the record while the latter is lifted above the turntable.

3. In a phonograph, a supporting structure, a turntable thereon for supporting a disc record, and means operating vlto lift the record from the turntable and reverse.and replace it, including jaws for embracing the edges of the record on opposite sides of the turntable, arms supporting l said jaws and mounted on said structure for clips |06, and thereby momentarily breaking the circuit as hereinbefore described, stopping the motor 66 and leaving the mechanism set to repeat the cycle of operation.

The mechanism thus described may readily be constructed from materials obtainable in the open market and at no great expense.

In its simplicity, ease of operation, and structural characteristics, the herein invention differs materiallyvfrom ,any the market affords.

I am aware that slight modications may from time to time be made in the details of structure movement to bring the jaws into and out of engagement with the record and to lift the record from and lower it back upon the turntable, and screw shafts fixed to said jaws and threadedly engaged with said arms for rotating the jaws about horizontal axes and thereby reversing the record responsive to inward pressure of the jaws against the edge of the record simultaneously with said lifting of the' record, and means operating to first move theA arms to force the jaws into contact with the record, then move the arms to lift the jaws and raise the record from the turntable, while forcing sa'id jaws against the record and whereby to eifect operation of said reversing means, the moving the arms to lower the reversed record onto the turntable, and finally moving the arms to retract the jaws and release the record on the turntable.

4. In a phonograph, a supporting structure', a turntable thereon for supporting,a disc record, and means operating to lift the record from the turntable and reverse and replace it, including jaws fo'r em'bracing the edges of the record on opposite sides of the turntable, arms supporting said jaws and mounted on said structure for l movement to bring the jaws into and outA of enabout horizontal axes and therebyreversing the record responsive to inward pressure of the jaws against the edge of the {record simultaneously with said lifting of the record, and means operating to first move the arms to force the jaws into contact with the record, then move the arms to lift the jaws andv raise the recgrd from the turntable, while lforcing said jawsJ against the record and whereby to eiect operation ofthe reversing means, then moving the arms to lower the reversed record back onto the turntable, and nally moving the arms to retract the jaws and release the record thus re-deposited on the turntable, and spring means operatively' associated with said operating means and arms-,for yieldingly holding the jaws against the record whereby to accommodate'records of varying diameters.

5. In a phonograph, a supporting structure, a turntable thereon, means for lifting a record from the turntable, reversing it and then replacing it on the turntable, including a bar rotatable on a horizontal axis on said `structure, arms pivoted between their endat the ends of said bar. and disposed on opposite sides of the turntable i or movement towards and away from the record, jaws on said arms for embracing edges of the record when the arms are moved -owards the record, screw shafts xed to the jaws and threadedly engaged with said arms for structure, drive means between the motor and draw bar for moving the latter, and toggle links connecting said draw bar with said arms.

means including a motor, a draw bar on saidv causing the jaws to rotate and reverse the record upon pressure of said jaws against the record, and means operating to rst move the arms -on said pivots for moving the jaws against the record then turning said bar to raise the arms and jaws so as to lift the record from the turntable, then lowering said arms and finally retracting them and said jaws.

6. In a phonograph, a supporting structure, a turntable thereon, means for lifting a record from the turntable, reversing it and then replacing it on the turntable, including a bar rotatable on a horizontal axis on said structure, arms pivoted between vtheir end at the ends of said bar and disposed on opposite sides of the turntable for movement towardsv4 and away from the record, jaws on said arms for embracing edges of the record when the arms are moved towards the record, screw shafts xed to the jaws and threadedly engaged with said arms for causing the jaws to rotate and reverse the rec-f ord upon pressure of said jaws against the record, and means operating to first move the arms on said pivots for moving the jaws against the record then turning said bar to raise the arms and jaws so as to lift the record from the turntable; then lowering said arms and nally retracting them and said jaws, said last named means including a motor, a draw bar on said 7. In a phonograph, a supporting structure, av turntable thereon, means for lifting a record from the turntable, reversing it and then replacing it on the turntable, including a bar rotatable on a` horizontal axis on said structure, arms.pivoted between theirv end at the ends of said bar and disposed on opposite sides of the turntable for movement towards and away from the record, jaws on said arms for embracing edges of the record when the arms are moved towards the record, s-crew shafts' fixed to the jaws and threadedly engaged with said arms for causing the jaws to rotate and reverse the rec.

ord upon pressure of said jaws against the record, and means operating to first move the arms on said pivots for moving the jaws against the record then turning said bar to raise the arms and jaws so as to lift the record from the turntable, then lowering said arms and nally re-V tracting them and said jaws, said last named structure, drive means between the motor and draw bar for moving the latter, and toggle links connecting said draw bar with said arms, each of said toggle links including telescopically en gaged relatively movable sections and spn'ng means between and resisting relative movement of said sections.

8. In a phonograph, a supporting structure, a turntable thereon, means for lifting a record from the turntable, reversing it and then replacing it on the turntable, including a bar rotatable on a horizontal axis on said structure, arms pivoted between their end at the ends of saidlbar and disposed on opposite sides of the turntable for movement towards and away from the record, jaws on said arms for embracing edges of the record when the arms are moved towards the record, screw shafts fixed to the laws and threadedly engagedwith said arms for causing the jaws to rotate and reverse thev record upon pressure of said jaws against the record,

and means operating to first move the arms on said pivots for moving the jaws against the record then turning said bar to raise the arms and jaws so as to lift the record from the turntable, then lowering said arms and finally retracting them and. said jaws, and spring means for normally holding said arms in position to cause the otal connections with said bar.

jaws to engage the record when the arms are initially swung'toward the record on their piv- DON ROBINS. 

